Istanbul Suicide Bombing Live Updates: Several Dead From Suspected Terrorist Blast In Turkey

UPDATE: 4:50 p.m. EST — The Peruvian citizen who was injured in Tuesday's suicide blast in Istanbul was preparing to leave the hospital already, reported the Associated Press. The explosion, for which the Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility, killed 10 people, including one other Peruvian and eight German nationals. The nationality of the other fatal victim was not immediately clear.

Daniela Vizán, the Peruvian who was injured, was hit in her leg with debris from the explosion, according to a report from news outlet Peru This Week.

“The lady is very good, a little hurt on her foot (…) The Police are not giving information, it is not known if she lives in Istanbul or if she is a tourist (…) She is the only person, that we know, is Peruvian, and is good,” witness Jak Hayim reportedly told Peru21.

Aside from Vizán, 14 other people were injured in the explosion.

UPDATE: 1:50 p.m. EST — Eight German nationals were among the 10 people killed Tuesday in a suicide blast in Istanbul, the German foreign minister said, according to the Associated Press, contradicting earlier reports that nine Germans died. Peru has said one of its citizens also died from the explosion, but the nationality of the tenth, unidentified victim was immediately unclear.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel told journalists, "Terrorists are the enemies of all free people." Her full, brief statement follows:

"Today Istanbul was the target; before, Paris, Copenhagen, Tunis and so many other areas. International terror changes the places of its attacks, but its goal is always the same — it is our free life in free society. The terrorists are the enemies of all free people — indeed, the enemies of all humanity, whether in Syria or Turkey, in France or Germany."

Later, the U.S. also joined the chorus of nations condemning the attack, for which the Islamic State group claimed responsibility shortly after the explosion in the Sultanahmet neighborhood of Turkey's capital city, which is very popular with tourists.

"The United States reaffirms our strong commitment to work with Turkey, a NATO ally and valued member [of the anti-ISIS coalition] to combat the shared threat of terrorism," U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said.

UPDATE: 12:42 p.m. EST — Nine of the 10 people killed Tuesday from a suicide explosion in Istanbul were German nationals, according to a broadcaster in the European country, citing government sources, the Local reported. Peru has said one of its citizens was also killed in the blast, for which the Islamic State group claimed responsibility.

Fifteen other people were injured in the attack, which was launched in the Sultanahmet neighborhood of Turkey's capital city, which is very popular with tourists.

UPDATE: 11:31 a.m. EST — Nations around the world have begun to rally behind Turkey in the wake of Tuesday's suicide bombing in Istanbul that killed 10 people. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius condemned the attack, for which the Islamic State group has claimed responsibility, and he said his country stands in solidarity with Turkey.

“I condemn in the strongest terms this heinous attack and express the full solidarity of France to the Turkish people and authorities of the country hit hard again,” Fabius said in a statement.

A Peruvian national was killed in Tuesday's blast, and another was injured, according to the country's Foreign Ministry.

Canada implored its citizens to be cautious but fell short of issuing a travel advisory. "There is no nationwide advisory in effect for Turkey," the Canadian government said in a statement. "However, you should exercise a high degree of caution due to crime, the threat of terrorist attacks and ongoing demonstrations throughout the country."

UPDATE: 11:15 a.m. EST — The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the deadly suicide explosion Tuesday in Istanbul that killed at least 10 people, Turkish officials said, CNN reported. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who indicated the suicide bomber came from outside of Turkey, said: "These terrorists [are] targeting the whole of civilization."

Original story:

A powerful explosion, suspected to be a suicide bombing, killed at least 10 people in a tourist area of Istanbul, Turkish officials said, according to the BBC Tuesday. Officials said a 28-year-old Syrian national carried out the deadly attack in the city’s Sultanahmet district. Turkey’s DHA news agency reported, via the Guardian, that the attacker was actually Saudi Arabian, citing security sources, but did not provide more details.

Many of the victims of the blast, which also wounded at least 15 others, were thought to be foreigners, the majority of whom were reportedly Germans. Two of the wounded were reported to be in serious condition.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the country was the "top target for all terrorist groups in the region," via the BBC. Turkey, he added, was "fighting against all of them equally."

“I condemn the terror incident in Istanbul, assessed to be an attack by a suicide bomber with Syrian origin,” Erdogan said in a speech, via the Guardian.

Authorities are still investigating the type of explosive used in the attack. A Turkish official told the Associated Press that at least nine of the victims of the attack were Germans.

"We are seriously concerned that German citizens could and probably will be among the victims and wounded. Those affected are members of a German tourist group," said German Chancellor Angela Merkel, according to the BBC. "Today Istanbul was hit; Paris has been hit, Tunisia has been hit, Ankara has been hit before. International terrorism is once again showing its cruel and inhuman face today."

Who exactly was behind the attack remains unclear. The Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, has been linked to three bombings in Turkey in the past year, including a deadly blast in the capital city of Ankara that killed more than 100 people. Security analysts believe ISIS could be behind the latest attack, according to Hurriyet Daily News.